Innovative Initiates By Dubai In Line With Its Sustainable Development Aims

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) has planned to add low-energy light poles that provide Wi-Fi throughout the emirate next year and also was evaluating technology to create solar roads.

A memorandum of understanding was signed between Innogy International Middle East and the French lighting company Ragni to design and implement smart lighting poles.

Saeed Al Tayer, managing director and chief executive of Dewa said “The smart poles that will be produced in the first quarter of 2018 combine multiple innovative features that support smart-city infrastructure according to the highest international standards,”

These will support smart mobility, including autonomous driving as well as Wi-Fi, all the while using environmental intelligence to maximize efficiency and energy-saving lighting.

In addition, the Dubai utility met a French civil engineering firm, Colas Group who specializes in road and rail construction, to explore a joint collaboration for solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, with the research and development centre in Dubai.

Mr Al Tayer said that the utility reviewed the Wattway technology used panels that are installed on existing roads to produce solar energy.

“Special engineering work is not required for this technology to work,” he said, adding that there were even more possibilities to develop the technology further for charging electric vehicles.

A 1-kilometre stretch of road paved with the technology can provide electricity to power public lighting in a city of 5,000 people, according to Colas. To supply electricity for one home only 20 square metres of Wattway panels are required.

The company has been developing Wattway, composed of cells inserted in superposed layers that ensure resistance and tyre grip for the past five years. What makes it possible to adapt to thermal dilation in the pavement as well as vehicle loads is the fact that the material is just a few millimeters thickwhich results in high end durability and safety.